Posted 06/01/2016

Little Stories Little Prints

A 1916 Commemorative Visual Arts Project through Printmaking

The Leinster Printmaking Studio, Clane, Co. Kildare, with support from the Kildare County Council Arts and Library Services present a 1916 Commemorative Project through Printmaking.

The project has been organised and coordinated by studio member Pamela de Brí, assisted by Studio Manager Margaret Becker. The project is also being supported by Dublin City Public Libraries.

Almost fifty Printmakers from eight Printmaking studios around Ireland have accepted an invitation to participate in the project, which aims to create awareness of little known events or incidents during or around the time of the Easter Rising in 1916. Through a variety of organised events the artists were encouraged to research incidents and aspects of life at the time of the Rising and to create little prints in response to their research. The result is an eclectic mix of interpretations of both the brief and of the artists’ research. There is sure to be plenty of discussion and argument about some of these interpretations.

To facilitate and stimulate research for the artists several talks and visits were arranged and recorded: a talk by Kildare historian-in-residence James Durney, a talk by historian Gerry O'Neill, a visit to and a talk in the National Library of Ireland, a guided tour of the 1916 Room in Collins Barricks several walks around prominent sites of activity in Dublin. The artists who rose to the challenge presented a great variety of stories and prints, a total of 60 prints were produced.

The yearlong programme of exhibitions and workshops can be followed by logging on to the website: www.littlestorieslittleprints.com throughout the year where visitors can view the prints online alongside the stories, incidents and events that inspired them.

Beginning with an exhibition in the Little Museum of Dublin, St Stephen’s Green, the project tours libraries in Kildare and Dublin City as well as venues around the country throughout 2016.

The Co. Kildare launch took place in the Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge on 8 April at 7.00 p.m. See the video below


Details of the various Co. Kildare dates will be posted in the Events section of kildare.ie

March:
Maynooth Library and Athy Library
April: RiverBank Arts Centre
June: Celbridge Library
July: Newbridge Library and Blue House Gallery, Schull
August: Kildare Library
September: Naas Library
October:  Leixlip Library

Workshops

The exhibition is being accompanied in most venues by a workshop for adults and/or children. The workshops consist of a short talk by a local historian followed by a talk and demonstration on printmaking techniques. Participants will then be encouraged to illustrate an incident or aspect of 1916 lore known to them. A small selection of the resulting work may be added to the website, thus building up a record of events and activities throughout the year.

Aspects of children’s printmaking workshops
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In these printmaking workshops, artists including Pamela De Bri and Margaret Becker, will work with children to uncover family lore and artefacts relating to 1916. An exhibition of prints exploring aspects of 1916, including the Proclamation, will be on display in each participating library prior to the workshops.

Venues and dates as for the workshops:

Athy Community Library
Emily Square - Athy   
31st March 2016
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm


Celbridge Community Library
St. Patrick's Park - Celbridge   
11th June 2016
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Newbridge Community Library
Athgarvan Road - Newbridge   
13th July 2016
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm


Kildare Town Community Library

Claregate Street - Kildare   
20th August 2016 - 28th August 2016
11:00 am - 12:00 pm


Leixlip Community Library
Captain's Hill - Leixlip   
22nd October 2016
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Participating Artists:

Brian Barry, Margaret Becker, Alice Beresford, Pamela de Brí, Melissa Cherry, Shane Crotty, Siobhán Cuffe, John Curran, Monica deBath, Morgan Doyle, William Finnie, Brian Fitzgerald, Paula Fitzpatrick, Angelina Foster, Rachel Fountain, Claire Halpin, Alice Hanratty, Sylvia Hemmingway, Barbara Hannigan, Val Hennigan, Rebecca Homfray, Charles Hulgraine, Siobhan Hyde, Margaret Irwin, Eileen Keane, Pauline Keena, Ger Kennedy, Andy Kilty, Brian Lalor, Jenny Lane, Anne McDonnell, Ann McKenna, Bernadette Madden, Fiona Marron, Mo Montgomery, Bríd Ní Rinn, Bríd óg Norrby, Suzannah O’Reilly, Geraldine O’Reilly, Paul Roy, Deirdre Shanley, Constance Short, Dorothy Smith, Fifi Smith, Katherine Smits, Ruby Staunton, Michele Sweetman, Margaret Tuffy, Dominic Turner

(Project devised and coordinated by Pamela de Brí assisted by Margaret Becker, Director and Studio Manager of the Leinster Printmaking Studio)

A limited edition exhibition publication is available for purchase on request.
For further information please email littlestorieslittleprints@gmail.com or phone 0876616863

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